He said the gator's size and level of aggression are taken into account when officials decide to euthanize.

"That is one reason we work hard to drive home the message that people not feed or approach these animals and keep pets away from them," Lucas said. "If they get used to people or begin to view them as a food source, there is a strong likelihood that the gator will eventually end up having to be killed because of it."

"I'm not suggesting that was the case with this gator at the high school -- I have no idea -- but it is a frequent cause generally, particularly with gators in ponds where there's lots of human activity around," he said.